State Signs of Postal Payment to be Issued in January

January 16, four postage stamps featuring woodpeckers to be put into circulation in the “Fauna of Russia” series

The ornithofauna of central Russia has over 170 species. Woodpeckers are key representatives of the family Picidae who are part of the order Piciformes. Most members of the family are characterised by a chisel-shaped beak that they use to peck into bark and boon of a tree to take out food – insects and their larvae. The woodpecker body plan is centered around its main activity which is pecking. The birds use their springy tails for support, feathers help the bird balance, the bill is good on hard bark and the tongue is tailored to pulling out the prey. The plumage of woodpeckers is exceptionally diverse; the birds range from tiny species measuring no more than 8 cm in length to large woodpeckers which can be up to 60 cm in length. Almost all species are nonmigratory or nomadic; they are tree climbers and reluctant short-distance flyers. 14 species of this family are found throughout the territory of Russia.

January 16, an envelope with a commemorative stamp dedicated to the 200th birth anniversary of Thomas Mayne Reid to be put into circulation as part of the “World Cultural Celebrities” series

Thomas Mayne Reid (1818−1883) was an English writer, the author of adventure novels and books for children and young adults; some of those works were published under the name of Reid, Captain Mayne.

He was born in the hamlet of Ballyroney (County Down, Ireland) in a pastor’s family. Reid was educated in Belfast and moved to the USA in 1838. He was a reporter in the Mexican-American War of 1846‒1848 and returned to Europe in 1849. 1850 saw his first novel The Rifle Rangers about the Mexican rebels’ resistance to the American invasion. His best adventure novels were written in the 1850s: The Scalp Hunters, Osceola, The Headless Horseman dwelling on the struggle of oppressed people in America. Large parts of his novels were dedicated to the description of flora and fauna of Asia, Africa and America.
Mayne Reid’s works inspired such prominent authors as Robert Louis Stevenson, Henry Rider Haggard and Jack London. T.M. Reid’s books were translated into German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Swedish.

The envelope with a commemorative stamp depicts Thomas Mayne Reid’s portrait against his own illustration to Osceola.

In addition to the envelope with a commemorative stamp, JSC “Marka” is to issue a special cancellation postmark for Moscow.

Design: V. Khablovsky.
Circulation: 1 million.

January 18, a postage stamp dedicated to the geologist and teacher Nikolai Lavyorov is to be put into circulation as part of the “Full Cavalier of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” series

Academician Nikolai Pavlovich Lavyorov (1930−2016) was a major specialist in geology, geochemistry of uranium, mineral exploration and development who significantly contributed to the creation of the mineral reserve base of the country.

Nikolai Lavyorov supervised the development of the latest technologies for exploitation of uranium deposits. He was a member of the Chernobyl accident elimination team.

In 1988–1989 he was in charge of a research group of the USSR Commission on the Spitak earthquake relief in Armenia, in 1989 he was appointed Chairman of the USSR State Committee for Science and Technology, he was the Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences from 1988 to 2013, President of the Lomonosov Fund in 1992–2016, Chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission on Environmental Safety of the Russian Security Council since 1998, Chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission on Arctic Research since 1989, Chairman of the USSR National Committee of Geologists since 1988 and of the Russian National Committee of Geologists since 1991.

For his outstanding contribution in the development of the national science and longstanding fruitful activities, Nikolai Lavyoriv was awarded Orders “For Merit to the Fatherland”, all classes. For his work achievements, extensive public activities and longstanding diligent work he was awarded the Badge of Honour, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labour, medals from a number of academies, the prestigious Demidov and Global Energy Prizes.

The postage stamp features Nikolai Lavyorov’s portrait and an Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”.

In addition to the stamp, JSC “Marka” is to release a FDC and first-day postmark for Moscow.

January 18, a postcard with a commemorative stamp dedicated to Saransk is to be put into circulation in the “2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia™ Host Cities” series

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is the 21st FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. This will be the first World Cup held in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Saransk is the capital of the Republic of Mordovia, one of the oldest cities of the Middle Volga region founded in 1641. At present Saransk is a large industrial and cultural centre with a developed economic and social infrastructure.

The postcard depicts the tournament official emblem and footballers at play on the stamp; Admiral Fyodor Ushakov’s monument, the Yaushev State Music Theatre and the cityscape are in the main image.

In addition to the postcard, JSC “Marka” is to release a special cancellation postmark for Saransk.

Design: N Karpova.
Circulation: 40 thousand stamps.

January 22, a postage stamp is to be put into circulation dedicated to the actor Vladimir Zeldin as part of the “Full Cavalier of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” series

Vladimir Mikhailovich Zeldin (1915−2016) was a Russian actor, People’s Artist of the USSR.

Vladimir Zeldin was born on 28 January 1915 in the town of Kozlov, Tambov Governorate in a musician’s family. Zeldin became an all-Union celebrity in 1941 starring in the comedy Svinarka i Pastukh (They Met in Moscow). His next films were The Ballad of Siberia, The Dancing Master, The Carnival Night.

Vladimir Zeldin became an actor of the Soviet Army Theatre in 1945 where he played a number of sparkling roles among which were the leading roles in Man of La Mancha, Invitation to the Castle, A Long Time Ago, Uncle’s Dream.

His most famous works as a film actor includes The Taming of the Shrew (1961), Uncle Vanya (1970), With or Without You (1973), The Woman in White (1981), Ten Little Niggers (1987) and many others.

Vladimir Zeldin was awarded three Orders of the Red Banner of Labour, the Order of Friendship, many medals and prizes. For his outstanding achievements in the development of performing art and longstanding creative activities, fruitful labour and extensive public activities, Vladimir Zeldin was awarded the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland ”, all classes.

The postage depicts Vladimir Zeldin’s portrait and an Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”.

In addition to the stamp, JSC “Marka” is to release a FDC and first-day postmark for Moscow.

January 25, a postcard with a commemorative stamp dedicated to Sochi is to be put into circulation in the “2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia™ Host Cities” series

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is the 21st FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. This will be the first World Cup held in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Sochi is a resort city located at the north-east coast of the Black Sea in Krasnodar Region stretching for 148 km. It is Russia’s largest resort city, major transport hub, big economic and cultural centre. Sochi hosted the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014.

The postcard depicts the tournament official emblem and footballers at play on the stamp; Fisht Olympic Stadium, Iceberg Skating Palace and a cityscape collage are in the main image.

In addition to the postcard, JSC “Marka” is to release a special cancellation postmark for Sochi.

Design: N Karpova.
Circulation: 40 thousand stamps.

January 31, an envelope with a commemorative stamp dedicated to the 125th birth anniversary of the outstanding Soviet commander and Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Panfilov is to be put into circulation as part of the “75th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945” series

Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov (1893−1941) was a Soviet Major General and a posthumous Hero of the Soviet Union. He joined the Red Army in 1918. During the Great Patriotic War he commanded the 316th Rifle Division at the Northwestern and Western fronts. In October-November 1941 during the defense of Moscow the soldiers and commanders of Panfilov’s 316th Rifle Division despite heavy casualties managed to significantly delay the German advance on the capital defending a 41-kilometer long sector to the south of Volokolamsk. On 16 November 1941, the troop of tank fighters of the 316th Division in the course of a fierce fight near the village of Dubosekovo stopped for 4 hours the advance of 50 German tanks having destroyed 18 of those. The heroic act went down in history as the legend of Panfilov’s 28 Guardsmen. Ivan Panfilov was killed in battle on 18 November 1941.
On 12 April 1942, Major General Panfilov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin. He had three Orders of the Red Banner and several medals.

The envelope with a commemorative stamp depicts Ivan Panfilov’s portrait against a battle composition and the Gold Star medal.
In addition to the envelope, JSC “Marka” is to release a special cancellation postmark for Nelidovo (Moscow Oblast).
Design: А. Moskovets.
Circulation: 1 million.